Fluid-actuated vibrator.



c. 'P. WILSON.

FLUID ACTUATED VIBRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18. 19M.

T E E H Av S T E E H S 2 Patented May 28 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY WITNESSES C. P. WILSON.

FLUID ACTUATED VIBRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I8, 1914.

Patented May 28, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES: A )"hwe k 2M 4 MVZG e47 A TTORNE Y niaaaa; 1 a ncatwm mea February is, rare. erial earnest.

' To all whomjt-may concern Be it knownthat 1, .CnAnLns acitizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and. State of l[llinois,'haveinvei1ted certain new and useful-Improvements in Fluid-Actuated Vi brators, or which the following is a full,

clear, and exactspecifica'tion;

This invention relates to improvements in fluid actuated-vibrators in which heretofore the force of aliquid driven wheel'is transmitted toand theapplicator vibrated to' the exclusion ofthe wheel by means of either jointed, or disjointed connections between the wheel and the applicator ,v and to these ends required a number of oints between the rotated wheel and the applicator, ob-

jectionable because of their liability to leak, and their frequent leaking.

The prime object of this invention is a fluid actuated vibrator in which the rotary wheel directly produces vibrations trans mitted through its surrounding casing to an applicator mounted thereon and otherwise disconnected from said rotating wheel, and

whereby both jointed, disjointed and other connections between the applicator and the rotating wheel are eliminated and the pos sibility of leakage. avoided.

A furtherobject of my invention is to provide means whereby centrifugal. force may be utilized for expelling water otherwise accumulating in and around the bearings of the rotary wheel of the vibrator, and thereby removing the resistance it would otherwise: be subjected to.-

. A further object of my invention is a fluid actuated vibrator providing for the emforces, and attainment of results being heref l inafter fully described. d5

'ployment of a number of applicators adapt- Mt ed respectively for avibratory dry, wet and vacuum treatment, or combinations of these treatments, the origin and operation of- A further object of this invention is to reduce to a minimum degree the number of parts and cost of construction of a fluid actuated vibrator and to entirely eliminate every joint and device heretoforeemployed as a means of connection by which to bodily vibrate an applicator independently or its supporting andactuating device.

. 1 .With these ends in view, my invention :1 i t 11 as r, Leonor ecneo, j FLUID-ACTUATED mm: 11-21 a specification of Lcttera Patent.-

lP. ILSON,

Patented are a rat.

simultaneously therewith a vacuum appli-' cation due to the circulation of water between the vibration producing rotary wheel and casing, and the siphon action of the exhaust, when substituted for the opposing applicators shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a, section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in;the direction of the arrows...

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, and

Fig.- 5 is a modified form of applicator for the purpose of utilizing it for a reservoir for soap, or other antiseptic compound.

.Similar characters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures or. the drawings.

The casing 13 is preferably circular with its opposing side walls 7 and 8 substantially flat, the side wall 8 of which is in the form of a' cap, screw threaded (see Fig. 3) into the peripheral wall of the casing as indicated at 9 and provided with a flange 10 seating against a shoulder 11 on the peripheral' wall of thecasing 6, but so far as my invention is concerned the casing may be of anyother form adapted for the purpose, and be formed in sections or in one piece.

Projecting from the casing and preferably integrally cast therewith is, a handle 12, which may have an insulating cover 13, and in any event is provided with a fluid inlet passage 14, and outlet passage 15, the separating wall 16 between which passages substantially terminates at the rim of the easving, at which point there is secured to and casing is formed a passage 19, through which fluid from the passage 14 discharges pockets for receiving the impact of fluid'dis' charging under pressurethrough the passage 20. r

The rotary wheel 18 is provided with axial opening 25 and revolveson balls 26 and 27 atzopposite sides of'the wheel supported respectively on cone bearings 28 and 29, seated in, or 0t wallsof the casing. I

erwis'e secured to theside As a means for preventing the wheel. be-

ing worn by the balls,"cup shaped plates of steel- 30 are em loyed as the bearing face for. the bal s,.which plateshave openings 31 and 32 and-together with the opening 25 through the wheel form an. addition to an axial chamber 32", which chamber may be, and preferably is enlarged by perfora-' tions 33 and 34 axially'throughthe cone bearings 28 and 29, for producing the' operation and results presently to be described.

The casing is rovided at its bottom with anopening close by a screw lug 35 for disch rging the collection of se cut or other foreign substance accumulating therein, and is provided with a screw-threaded lug .36 opposite and on a line axial with the handle 12and on a line at a right angle thereto with a hollow In 19 forthe discharge of fluid therefrom regulated by acook 38 and on the same line opposite the lug'37, it is also provided with a perforated lug 39 connected with the axial chamber 32 by a passage 40. Secured on the lug 36 is a nut 41,- to which is secured an applicator 42, which like the applicators 43, 44 and 45 hereinafter referred" to, is referably'composed of resilient vulrubber, but may be of any other suitable" material.

The applicator 43 is likewise secured by a nut 46 provided with a numberof perforations 47 extending through the'base ofthe applicator between which and the. passage through the 'lug 37 is formed in the nut a vchamber 48 whereby fluid discharging from vthe passage 19' in the casing has access to and is discharged from the perforations 47,

the volume of which discharge may be reg'ulated by the'cock 38.

The applicator 44 is likewise secured to 37 opening into the passage on the outer en the perforated lug 39 by a nut 49 provided with a perforation 50 extending therethrough and'through the base or bottom of the cup. a

Applicators 42, '43 and 44 are in the .form of cups having outwardly flaring sides, whereas the inner wall of the applicator 45, F1g.' 2, is struck on the arc of a circle, giv'- mg it a somewhat bulbular form, wherein when held against the tissues, a jet of liquid is directed to contact therewith, and at the same time the tissues are subjected to vacuum treatment, the forces roducing and sustaming the vacuum pe orming the additional function of drawing off the liquid deposited by the'jet, the source of which vacuum is the axial chamber of the rotating wheel, when said applicator is connected an secured to and becomes a part of the massaging-machine of my invention, as will now be described.

Applicator 45 is provided'with a nut 50 having therethrou h a passage 50? preferably on a line axia with the nut and the' applicator, and 1s connected with a pipe 51,

preferably of rubber, by means of an elbow coupling 1 52 opening into the side wall of the app cator at a point between the mouth of the appllcator and the opposing wall.

The opposite end of the pipe 51 1s sleeved and tightened u on a curved coupling 53 of which is secured, but free to turn, an internally screw-threaded nut '54 by means of a flange 55 on the end of the coupling 53 and whereby 'on,removing the cups 43 and 44 the bulbular cup 45 may be secured to the casing of the vibrator on screwing the nut 50 on the lug 37 fol lowed by tightening the nut 54 on the lug 39. The operative position of the cup 45 when connected with the vibrator as described, is the reverse of that shown in Fig. 2, as will be understood by turning the drawing upside down, and with the result that the fluid of a jet, as for example,-water following its discharge through the passage 50 to contact with the tissues against which the applicator 45 is'held will descend to and enter the pass sage 1n the coupling 52 and thence onwardly through the pipe 51, thence through the passage 40, Fig. 4, and through the opening 33m the cone bearing 28, Fig. 3, into the vacuum chamber 32, thence through the ball bearings andoutwardly from the vacuum "chamber through the passages formed between the casings 7 and 8- and the wheel 18, Fig. 3, and. discharge thence into the discharge piassage 21 of the vibrator structure, WhlChscharge from the applicator 45 is at the time substantially accelerated by its connection through the passage 40 with the discharge passage 21, through the axial vacuumchamber 32 of the vibrator, the vacuum producing elements belng between the vacunaeaeae 21,-.as will be described.-

This connection or the applicator 4l5 with 3 the vacuum chamber is an lmportant feature of my invention in that it rovides a means for subjecting the tissues simultaneously to a vacuum treatment concurrently with their vibration, and'the direct application of a fluid treatment, as for example hot or cold water as maybe desired for the purpose of the treatment given.

At this point it is important to correlate the forces producingthe state termed a vacuum in the vacuumchamber 32?, and

note the edect upon said vacuum resulting from theconnection andconsequent flow. of

, liquid through the vacuum chamber, ashas just been described;

WVhen the actuating liquid is allowedto, flow'through the opening 20, Fi 1, and impinge upon the pockets 24 of t e wheel 18, I the liqu1d is momentarily retarded and circulated through the openings of'the vibrator structure, including the vacuum chamber 32,

to the exclusion and driving ofi' of air through the discharge passage 21.

As the liquid flow from the passage 20 continues,- the inertia of the wheel 18 is overcome, and concurrentl the discharge passage 21 is-filled with a iquid forming awater seal. a

The passage 40, Fig. 4:, being closed by the pressure of the attached applicator upon the tissues being treated, applies tothe different and other discharging and intaking applicator connections herewlth described.

At this stageof acceleration, the entire interior vibrator structure is filled with liquid circulating at'a low rate of speed, but

as the speed of the motor wheel 18 increases, the liquid in, and adjacent to, the vacuum chamber 32, thrown to the peripheryof the wheel 18, and thence into the discharge passage 20.

The vacuum producing element in operation is primarily the centrifu al capillary action induced in the thin openings between the casings 7 and 8 and the wheel 18, Fig. 3.

The state of vacuum is for the purpose intended and described herein, perfect at about 250 revolutions per minute of the motor, wheel 18, at which speed the liquid is expelled from the vacuum chamber 32 and from the bearings of the motor, and is held as a water seal at the extreme: periphery of the motor wheel, and flows evenly into the discharge passage 21, maintaining the vacuum produced as described, the flow and operation of the liquid in the discharge passage 21',- and its importance, being more minutely described hereinafter.

. From the foregoing it will now be readilyv understood that the dry vacuum produced as just. described is not materially affected by the applicator connection, wherein a small amount of liquid is. allowed-to flow from. the supply passage 19 into the-'applh l cater, thence through the assage tdunder -draft,' into the vacuum c amber 32, and

outwardly by a rotary capillary-action into volume offlow in the'passa e, and serves to A maintain more. positively, t e water seal at theperipheryof the motor wheel.

In Fig. 5 is illustrated an applicator in the nut- 56 of which is a passage 57 for the discharge of. water into the applicator on substituting it forthe applicator t3 by' screwing the nut on the lug37, the mouth of which'applicator. is closed .by means of a coarse woven fabric 58 suitable for the purpose, stretched over the open end of the ap-- plicator, and held in place by a rubber ring 59, or'other suitable means.

When so constructed the applicator forms areceptacle for confining a cake, 60, hich may be soap or other antiseptic or m icinal compound dissolved by-- water discharging from the passage 57 through'the fabric cap,-

the source of which is the passage 19 of the vibrator structure, on screwing the appli cator 55 on the lug 37 in place of the appli-"- ca'tor 43.

It will now be observed that in the tur- Tee bine like wheel 18 is a. slot 61 semi-annular in form and extending at both ends some what beyond the diametrical center of the wheel, and whereby the wheel is accordin ly unbalanced on its axis, the result of which is that concurrently with the rotation of the wheel a vibration thereof is produced, transmitted and imparted to the casing and to the applicator or applicators mounted thereon.

In other words a centrifugal operation of the wheel is produced by the impingement of the fluid discharging under pressure from the passage 20, into the pockets of the Wheel, and whence the fluid by centrifugal force is expelled outwardly from the pockets into the'discharge passage 21.

In other words the weight of the casing is opp'osed to the unbalanced portion of the wheel, with the result that following the centrifugal force imparted by the wheel due rat lief

to fluid under pressure discharging from the.

passage 20 into the pockets, and subsequently thence intothe discharge passage 21 by cen trifugal force, the result is a motion of the Y entire machine through a distance inversely proportionate to the travel of the eccentric weightof the wheel, the weight of the marat - to an applicator secured to the casing desir- I circle, which tendency is however modified by'the fact that the machine 'is possessed v recti'on parallel to the axis of 1ts handle than of a greater momentum in a dim a directionperpendicular to said axis.

Furthermore the weight ofthe hand of. the operator has a tendency to increase this inequality ofthe distance moved in the, re-

spective directions, so that the path talren is represented by an ellipse thereby g1v1ng able difierences in action, in that the applicator on a line with the handle will have something of a rolling efiect upon the; tissues, while the applicators at the opposlte sides of the casing will tend to pound.

The production and maintaining of a vacuum at and surrounding the axis of the rotating wheel or motor 18 is attributable to two causes, viz., centrifugal action constantly operating to direct the fluid away .from the axis and expel it'outwardly beyond the periphery of the wheel into the discharge passage 21, and suction in the discharge passage produced by the siphon action of the fluid in the discharge pipe, the

end of the exhaust tube ordinarily being at a lower level than the machine. An'element of force is added to this action due to the gradualenlarging of. the passage 21, resulting in a loss of velocity of the escaping fluid and the consequent dissipation of momenturn of .the liquid.

' discharge chamber until it is isolated from and the opposing wall of the casing, and this so long as the water freely discharges from the motor at a point between the partition 17 the outlet passage 15 in the handle.

The chamber'formed in the wheel by the slot 61 supplements the axial chamber and adds volume. to the space in which the v 'vacuum occurs and consequently elasticity to 50.

its action.

The vacuum thus produced may not only be utilized for simultaneously imparting to the tissues of a patient a vibrating and vacuum treatment, but produces the further and perhaps more important function of clearing the bearings of and surrounding the wheel with'air, and free to rotate in the absence of friction and resistance otherwise due to'the presence of water in its bearings and between the wheel and the casing, and thereby providing for the highest possible speed of a motor wheel consistent with its being actuated by a fluid and particularly water, the use of which latter is from the or liquid form for the operation of the motor and application of a fluid treatment may be regulated by a valve or stop cock (not shown) in the supply-passage of the handle, but in practice it is preferred to have such a valve or stop cock at the source of supply, which when water is used may be the stopcock of the plpe from which the supply is taken, or if a gas, a stop cocklocated in the supply pipe from the containing tank.

"In conclusion it should be observed that my'invention is not limited to the specific construction and arrangement of parts here-';

.in shown and described, and that it would not be a substantial departure from my invention' to operate the motor by any well known electrical means adapted therefor, and of which there are several, or for supplying a force auxiliary to that of a fluid for operating the motor, as herein described.

Having, described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fluid actuated vibrator comprising incombination a casing, a rotatable motor having its bearings in said casing provided with a chamber surrounding the axis thereof, an applicator mounted upon said casing,

and'means whereby a vacuum is produced in said axial chamber.

2. fluid actuated vibrator comprising in combination a casing, a rotatable motor mounted therein, provided with an exhaust liquid circulating chamber, an applicator mounted on said casing provided with a passage, and means whereby said passage is connected with said exhaust chamber.

3. Av fluid actuated vibrator comprising in combination a casing, a rotatable motor confined and having its bearings in said casing provided with a slot forming a semi-annular chamber therein and with a chamber surrounding the axis thereof, and an applicator secured to the casing provided with a passage therethrough in communication with both of said chambers. 3 4. A fluid actuated vibrator comprising in combination a rotatable motor, a vacuum chamber therein, a fluid supply chamber in said casing for the motor, an applicator mounted on said casing, and means where by said applicator may be simultaneously connected with said vacuum chamber and with the contents of the supply chamber.

5. A fluid actuated vibrator comprising in combination a casing provided with a fluid supply passage and a discharge passage therethrough bisecting said supply passage, a rotatable motor mounted in the easmamas ing provided with a Vacuum chamberQ-a passage in and through the casing connected with said vacuum chamber, an applicator mounted on said casing, and means whereby said applicator may be simultaneously connected with the fluid supply passage and said vacuum chamber.

In witness whereof, have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal, this 14th day of February, A. D. 1914.-

CHARLES P. WILSON. [1b. s.]

Witnesses:

JNO. G. ELLIOTT, Mum ELsNER. 

